Thursday, September 6, 2018

Everyone has a good time at Center Rep's 'Mamma Mia!'

Some of the bounciest music ever written and a
terrific cast add up to one very good time at Center Repertory Company’s
production of “Mamma Mia!”

Featuring songs mostly by Benny Andersson and Björn
Ulvaeus made popular by the Swedish band ABBA in the ’70s, “Mamma Mia!” is set
on a Greek island in 1999.

Sean Okuniewicz as Sky and Giana Gambardella as Sophie look forward to their wedding.

Sophie (Giana Gambardella) is to be married to Sky
(Sean Okuniewicz) and wants her father to walk her down the aisle.

There’s just one hitch: Three men might be her
father. They are Harry (Mark Farrell), Bill (Keith Pinto) and Sam (Noel
Anthony).

Her single mother, Donna (Lynda DiVito), has had no
contact with them since Sophie was conceived, and she doesn’t know who’s the
father. Nor does she know beforehand that Sophie has invited them to Donna’s
taverna.

Among the other wedding guests are Tanya (Alison
Quin) and Rosie (Leanne Borghesi), who were part of a ’70s disco girl group
with Donna. They have great fun reminiscing and reprising some of their songs,
such as “Dancing Queen.”

As directed by Marc Jacobs, everything works out for
the best at the end.

Before then, the audience is treated to more hits
like “Honey, Honey,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” “One of Us,” “Knowing Me, Knowing
You,” “Take a Chance on Me” and the title song.

All are sung well under the leadership of musical
director Brandon Adams.

There’s some great dancing, too, thanks to
choreography by Robyn Tribuzi.

Kurt Landisman’s lighting puts on its own show during
the overture. Costumes by Maggi Yule are sometimes wildly imaginative, as in
the nightmare scene that opens Act 2.

The flexible set is by Kelly James Tighe with sound
by Jeff Mockus.

Even after the curtain call, some of the best-known
songs are reprised, giving the audience a chance to join in and have as much
fun as the 20-member cast seems to be having.

Running about two and a half hours with one
intermission, “Mamma Mia!” will continue through Oct. 7 at the Lesher Center
for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek.

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About Me

Judy reviews San Francisco Bay Area theater and writes feature articles about activities of the Stanford Women's Basketball team and Fast Break Club. A longtime Bay Area journalist, she is retired from the San Francisco Chronicle, where she was a writer and copy editor.